She Appeared Overnight: The Mystery of the Virgin Mary of Clearwater (3 of 5)

Then, in May 1997, the mood shifted. Vandals splashed a liquid across the wall, distorting the image and damaging Mary’s face. The reaction was immediate and intense. Prayer vigils were held. People wept openly. Calls went out for forgiveness, not just for the act, but for whatever anger might have fueled it. That same night, heavy thunderstorms swept through Clearwater. By morning, the wall was clean. The image appeared restored. To believers, it was a sign. To skeptics, an unsurprising result of rain and runoff. Either way, the story deepened.

In 1998, the site gained another layer. Texas sculptor Felix Avalos was commissioned to create a crucifix for the grounds. Over two years, he carved cedar into a towering figure of Christ—nine feet tall, mounted on a 21-foot cross weighing more than a ton. On June 3, working alone at night, he made the final cut. Overcome with emotion, he called his wife in tears, unable to fully explain what he felt. For him, the work wasn’t symbolic. It was personal.